   
This is a selection of my activities during the past week. It will include some letters I have written, meetings I have held, and events I have attended. It is not fully comprehensive, and is simply a flavour of some of the things I have been up to, but I hope you find it of interest.
18TH - 24TH OCTOBER 2008
- Held an advice desk in Weoley Castle for constituents
- Met with the Chief Officer of the West Midlands Probation Service to discuss the work of the probation service and other community safety issues
- Gave evidence at the public examination of the development plan for the former Rover site in Longbridge
- Met with the Environmental Agency and fellow local MPs Lynne Jones and Steve McCabe to discuss the impact of the recent flooding in Birmingham and what can be done to improve flood protection in our area
- Attended an event in the House of Commons to celebrate Portrait of a Nation – a year-long programme of events that has seen young people explore their heritage and identity – and meet Shaun Tulloch, the Birmingham Youth Ambassador for the project
- Met with the sub-postmaster of Middlemore Road Post Office, Northfield Councillors and the Birmingham City Council Cabinet Member for Local Services to discuss what can be done in the light of Post Office Ltd’s decision to proceed with the closure of the post office branch on Middlemore Road
- Along with Labour colleagues from the region, met with Ian Austin and Lynda Waltho, the new Regional Minister and Deputy Minister for the West Midlands
- Spoke at a meeting about the future of progressive politics in Britain
- Distributed letters to residents updating them on proposed commercial developments in parts of the constituency
- Made various representations and took up a range of issues on behalf of constituents including housing, local library facilities, children in care, financial services, benefits, immigration, the environment and adult social care
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